I saw a column on a competing site discussing not the players the editors considered to be the best, but rather the ones they were most excited to see in 2019 for a variety of reasons.

Number one, for example, was Richmond’s new forward Tom Lynch, arguing he had more pressure on him than any other player in the AFL.

A similar exercise asked experts to choose a starting line-up using one player from each AFL team. Try it – it makes for interesting debates.

The plethora of good mids meant the prime choices either came from the defence or from the weaker teams, with top teams and midfielders filling out rosters under the theory that there were plenty to choose from.

Combining those ideas, here’s a completely arbitrary list from my personal whims.

Here are the players from each of the 18 current AFL rosters that I most enjoy watching play the game of footy.

That doesn’t mean the best (though some are), or the most exciting (though some are), or any other specific criteria.

It means that if I’m watching that team, which player do I focus on and keep track of during the game, for whatever reason?

Please take a few moments to think about your answers to that and share them in the comments, preferably with your reasons why if you can explain them.

And just to be different, since this is already different, I’ll list the teams in order of increasing mascot edibility. All rankings are hypothetical and for amusement purposes only. Do not try eating anything on this list.

Power: Steven Motlop
Even though he hasn’t been quite as mercurial at Port as he was with Geelong yet, he’s still the kind of spectacular crumbing forward who – in the best Cyril Rioli tradition – might not touch the Sherrin for three quarters and then single-handedly win the game for you in the fourth.

Also in my electric station: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Robbie Gray, Dougal Howard, Sam Powell-Pepper, Paddy Ryder when healthy, Justin Westhoff and Ollie Wines.

Suns: Peter Wright
While still not at all edible, at least a sun is a thing.

‘Two-Metre Peter’ came through the summer looking both stronger and faster than he was last year – and with some new young blood around him, he could very well be the heartbeat of a new generation Gold Coast team.

Also on my observation deck: Charlie Ballard, whichever King twin is at the Suns, Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine, Alex Sexton, Jarrod Witts and Aaron Young.

Blues: Patrick Cripps
Not strictly a ‘thing’ either, but at least food can be blue.

Cripps proved at AFLX that he’s an entertainer, place-kicking a goal with an American-style holder.

But he’s also a purely dynamic player in the real game too, and by this time next year he will be one of the foursome of midfielders spoken of as the best in the game. Unless Josh Kelly joins them and it’s a fivesome.

Also gettin’ me jazzed: Levi Casboult, the soon-to-be-legendary Charlie Curnow and his brother Ed, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Silvagni and Sam Walsh.

Bombers: Anthony McDonald Tipungwu… (name continued on next page)
What an exciting player! Tipungwuti has the strength to break the pack, the speed to outrace it, and the kicking skills to finish the play.

And he always seems to need a uniform one size bigger…

Also on my radar: Joe Daniher (prayers for a healthy season), Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell and His Flying Hair, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith and David ZA-HA-RA-KIS!

Demons: Max Gawn
The least edible of the humanoids. I mean demons, not Max. I think.

What’s not to love? Dominant player, outspoken, and a visually striking man.

My favorite Gawn story is his publicly announced declaration that although Todd Goldstein was then the undisputed king of the ruck, Gawn planned to be No.1 within a year. And he did it.

Also devilishly attractive: Angus Brayshaw, Bayley Fritsch, Neville Jetta, Nathan Jones (the toughest player I know) and Billy Stretch.

Saints: Paddy McCartin, assuming he still has a career after all these concussions
McCartin came into the league as the Next Big Thing, but he’s suffered head knock after head knock, and last week he got yet another in the second JLT game against the Bulldogs, his eighth career concussion.

That’s about six or seven more than anyone should keep playing a collision sport with.

And yet he keeps coming back to follow his dream. Foolhardy, and admirable, and I pray for his long-term health and safety.

Also heavenly adorable: Josh Bruce, Jarryn Geary, the other King twin, Long and Longer, Tim Membrey and Seb Ross.

Dockers: Nat Fyfe, who else?
When healthy, the most exciting player in the league – probably edging the other two uber-stars (Martin and Dangerfield) for me through his leaping ability.

But as with any player question about Fremantle, who else could it possibly be?

Sorry, Dockers, but while it may not quite be the Little Master and the 2011 Suns situation, it’s close.

Also sailing my direction: Hayden Ballantyne, the eagerly awaited Harley Bennell sighting, Jesse Hogan, Cam McCarthy and Sam Sturt.

Giants: ‘General’ Jon Patton
The most edible of the humanoid mascots, theoretically.

Like McCartin or Tom Boyd, Patton was supposed to be a superstar from day one, and like most of those players, has never reached those supposedly inevitable heights.

The moral: never take true superstars for granted – it’s never easy, no matter how much talent you came with.

Patton has had his moments, but he’ll be out until mid-season again this year. He’s had only three relatively full seasons – 2015, ’17, and ’18 – averaging about 1.5 goals per game and half as many minors.

But it’s the potential that we keep waiting for – after all, he’s still only 25!

Also big in my estimation: Jeremy Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, Brett Deledio, Jeremy Finlayson, Toby Greene, Josh Kelly, Tim Taranto, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield and Zac Williams.

Magpies: The American Pie, Mason Cox
The Man, the Myth, the Legend.

He can dunk a ball on his knees. He can clean the windows of a skyscraper without a platform. His strike zone alone is longer than Caleb Daniel’s entire body. And he’s the funniest man in the league.

Or maybe he just shares my American sense of humor. Excuse me, humour.

Also ‘Colling’ to my heart: Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jeremy Howe, the ever-steady Scott Pendlebury, Jaidyn Stephenson and Travis Varcoe.

Crows: Eddie Betts

Someday, it won’t be Betts. Someday, he’ll retire, or he’ll slow down, or they’ll find a player more exciting than Eddie.

Actually, that’s not very likely. Betts somehow has always had the ability to make the most of whatever moment is most spectacular. Especially if it’s in the right pocket.

Also ade-Laide up for your enjoyment: Tom Doedee, the red-headed version of Tom Lynch, Rory Sloane of course, and Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker.

Hawks: Jarryd Roughead, cancer survivor

Beyond being the top forward on a champion team, which is impressive enough, Roughy endeared himself to me as a cancer survivor, missing a full season and returning to the forward 50 for Hawthorn.

My mother died of cancer, as did her mother. Every time he takes the field, I have more faith in the world.

Also Hawkin’ around my Christmas tree: Shaun Burgoyne, Jaeger O’Meara, Paul Puopolo, James Sicily, Chad Wingard and James Worpel.

Eagles: Nic Naitanui
It’s one thing to be athletic – Nic Nat has that in spades. But he also has a flair for the dramatic.

He can kick the game-winner after a pack mark at the siren a la 2013 against North, or steal a Sherrin to kick the game-winner on the run as he did against the Giants a couple of years later.

A thoughtful, dread-locked man who’s endured more than his share of physical hardship and come out undaunted.

Also flying high: Oscar Allen, who’s going to have a big year, Jamie Cripps, Lewis Jetta, JJ Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern, Willie Rioli, Liam Ryan and Elliot Yeo.

Cats: Gary Ablett Jr
It doesn’t matter if he’s on his last competitive legs, if he’s having to move to forward to stay relevant in his mid-thirties, or if he’s almost an afterthought when you talk about Geelong’s weapons in 2019.

He’s still the Little Master, creating masterpieces with a single kick.

Also making me purr: A ton of exciting players in blue and white, like Nakia Cockatoo, Danger, Cam Guthrie, Tomahawk, Tim Kelly, the mercurial Gary Rohan, the unspellable Esava Ratugolea, and Zach Tuohy.

Bulldogs: Caleb Daniel
How can you not enjoy watching him go after Paddy McCartin in their JLT match-up, batting the ball from his grasp despite giving up a third of a metre to him in height.

As said on the broadcast, he was putting himself in danger of becoming a permanent fullback, not just a helmeted giant-slayer.

Also on my list of ‘good boys’: the Bont, Tom Boyd, Jason Johannisen, Jack Macrae, Aaron Naughton, Josh Schache and Easton Wood, who handed Bob Murphy an invite to my list.

Lions: Matt Eagles
I can’t wait to finally see the Apprentice back on the field!

I was one who expected almost nothing from Eagles when he joined Brisbane, and not only was I wrong, but he turned out to be pretty decent in his four games so far – 22 disposals, including 11 in his debut against Collingwood last year and a goal against the Hawks, before getting hurt in his fourth game in Round 10.

Also, and I’d be Lion if I didn’t say there’s a pride of them: Charlie Cameron, Darcy Gardiner, Eric Hipwood, Luke Hodge, Jarryd Lyons, Hugh McCluggage, Cam Rayner and Alex Witherden.

Tigers: Jack Higgins
I know, I can’t believe it isn’t Dusty, either.

But Higgins has already made himself famous for his charm, his wit, and his goal-of-the-year skills. Glad they miked him at AFLX!

Also roaring for my attention: Shai Bolton, Josh Caddy, Trent Cotchin, the underrated Bachar Houli, Dusty, Jack Riewoldt and the Killers, Daniel Rioli and Jayden Short.

Swans: Lance Franklin
Swans have lots of good lean meat on them.

“He’s fire, he’s freedom, he’s flooding open… He’s a preacher in the pulpit of your blind devotion…

“He’s someone breaking at the defence’s goal, so tell me if you wanna go…

“Where the SCG’s covered in lights, where the key forward is running the night…

“The impossible’s coming true, he’s taking over you – Buddy’s the greatest show!”

With apologies to Hugh Jackman, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Fox Footy’s commercial team.

Also amidst my Million Dreams: Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, Tom McCartin, Tom Papley, Sam Reid and Callum Sinclair.

Kangaroos: Majak Daw
Also hopping around: Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington, Jared Polec, Mason Wood and the most exciting pair of Zs in the league, Ziebell and Zurhaar.

I’m not getting involved in any debate over eating a national emblem that’s overpopulating its environment – at least not in a country I don’t live in. I suffer from being American. Please don’t hold it against me.

But they are highly edible, probably the most likely mascot on this list for readers to have eaten, so they occupy the top spot.

And no one deserves my top spot on players I love watching than the magnificent and graceful Majak Daw.

With the possible exception of Buddy, there’s nobody I’ve ever watched on the oval who can do more impossible things than Majak can.

He’s done it from end to end, as a scoring forward, a leaping ruckman, and a defensive gem.

His height and leap alone make him formidable, but his strength and his grasp once he gets the ball on his fingertips is what makes him unstoppable when he’s on.

Had he locked into a position in his youth, he would already have become the greatest forward/defender/ruckman in the game. As it is, it wasn’t until 2018 that he found what appears to be his best position.

I don’t know the man personally. I wish I did. Whenever I’ve heard him speak, he’s impressed me as thoughtful, introspective, candid, honest, and possessing the world’s eye view that probably comes from the different places he’s lived.

I also don’t know what he’s been going through over the last few months except what’s been reported, and it’s none of my business.

But to him and to everyone who’s ever fought the devils that come at you when you’re alone, I want to say that I’ve been there. So have many others.

You’re not alone – you’re never alone. And when you’re in the fight, get someone else to help you fight.

And to those who don’t understand why successful people struggle with life at times, let me describe one such person.

He’s fought depression for decades, despite being at the top of his class throughout secondary and college, despite having a career in music and math education that garnered accolades and applause, despite having near-perfect health until ten years ago, when this disease finally forced me into retirement last year.

Yes, me.

Nothing I did was ever good enough to satisfy my own standards, as the voices kept reminding me. And when you’re introspective, you hear those voices all the time – you can’t keep from hearing them.

Just remember that those voices are wrong. You’re valuable, undoubtedly more so than you know. Never give up. Never surrender.

If you need help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue 1300 224 636.